With food rations secured, they moved on to purchase the remaining essentials—a process that felt less like survival prep and more like an elite shopping spree.
Every item they picked was top-of-the-line, enchanted, and absurdly expensive. Alicia spared no expense.
Alex, meanwhile, couldn't shake a nagging thought. 'Am I… a gigolo?'
He glanced at Alicia, who effortlessly paid for everything with a flick of her wrist, her expression as composed as ever.
'She's literally my Sugar Mommy at this point…'
The thought sent a mix of embarrassment and guilt through him. But at the same time, he had no choice. A quick check of his account balance—500,000 relis. A decent sum, but even the cheapest essential gear cost a fortune.
If he insisted on paying himself, he'd be broke in an instant.
Aurora, who had been silently enjoying the spectacle, suddenly piped up. "You know, Alex… if you really feel bad about it, you could always pay her back in… other ways~."
Alex almost tripped. "What the hell do you mean by that?"
"Oh, I don't know… maybe by being her cute little disciple? Or by giving her a nice massage after training~?"
"Shut up."
Aurora giggled mischievously, while Alicia remained blissfully unaware of Alex's inner turmoil.
Priscilla, watching with amusement, finally burst into laughter. "Oh, come on, Alex! You're acting like she just emptied her entire fortune. Trust me, once you become a full-fledged adventurer, you'll earn way more than this. A few million relis will feel like pocket change."
She clapped him on the back—nearly making him stumble forward.
Alex sighed. "I get that, but still… this is way too much for simple supplies."
Alicia, having quietly observed his reaction, crossed her arms. "If you're that worried about it, then consider it an investment."
"An investment?" Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. As your master, it's only natural for me to ensure my disciple has everything he needs. You are my responsibility, Alex. So stop brooding over something this trivial."
There was something firm in her tone—gentle, yet leaving no room for argument.
Alex hesitated. "I mean, I should at least try to—"
Alicia's gaze sharpened, ever so slightly.
"Are you saying you'd rather accept money from someone else?"
A strange chill ran down his spine.
"That's… not what I meant."
He appreciated her support, but the sheer amount she had spent on him today was absurd. He wasn't broke by any means—he had half a million relis in his account—but even if he emptied it, he wouldn't have been able to afford even a fraction of what she had bought for him.
"Good." Alicia's expression returned to its usual calm. "You shouldn't concern yourself with such things. I want to provide for you, my disciple. Isn't that enough?"
Alex felt an odd pressure behind those words.
Aurora, of course, picked up on it immediately.
"Ooooh~ now that was a little scary." she teased. "Master Alicia, do you perhaps want to keep Alex all to yourself?"
Alex internally panicked. "Shut up, shut up, shut up!"
Aurora snickered. "Alicia's Sugar Mommy Arc definitely continues!"
Alex groaned internally.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
With the main essentials secured, Alex finally felt like they were done with shopping.
At least, that's what he thought— until Priscilla suddenly turned to him with a teasing grin.
"Wait a second… Alex, you don't have your own phone, do you?"
Alex blinked. "Uh, no?"
"That settles it! I'm buying you one!" she declared cheerfully, clapping her hands together. "Consider it an early gift from your wonderful, generous big sister!"
Before he could protest, she was already dragging him toward the electronics floor.
Alex's reluctance quickly gave way to excitement. Back on Earth, he had been pretty tech-savvy, and now, seeing how technology had evolved in this world filled with magic, he was genuinely curious.
The phone store was sleek and modern, with glowing displays showcasing a variety of models. Unlike the purely digital devices from Earth, the phones here were a futuristic blend of magic and technology.
The basic models resembled the smartphones he remembered—touchscreens, apps, and all—but they also had advanced features like holographic displays, three-dimensional interfaces, and minor enchantments for security and durability.
'Okay… this is actually kind of cool.'
Aurora, floating beside him, was also observing everything with a child's curiosity.
Alex smirked. "You barely understand technology at all, don't you?"
Aurora pouted. "H-Hey! I know the important things! Like… um… how to take selfies?"
He chuckled.
Meanwhile, Alicia and Priscilla weren't even browsing. They simply walked up to the counter with the confidence of people who didn't care about specs or budget.
A friendly-looking staff member approached them. "Welcome! Are you looking for something specific?"
"Yes," Priscilla said immediately. "Just show us the latest and best model for Adventurers."
Alex opened his mouth to say something—maybe suggest a mid-range model or at least ask about prices—but Alicia suddenly placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"There's no need to worry about that," she said in a calm, composed voice. "You should always have the best equipment available. That includes your phone."
Her grip, though light, had a subtle possessiveness to it.
Priscilla grinned and gave Alex a playful nudge. "Yep! Can't have my cute little brother running around with some cheap model."
"Wait, I never agreed to—"
"Hush," Aurora whispered in his ear, giggling. "Just accept your fate, Sugar Baby."
Alex groaned. "Why does this feel more like they're deciding for me instead of me buying a phone?"
The staff member, oblivious to his inner turmoil, nodded and led them toward a premium display case.
"This is the Eclipse-S9X, our latest and most advanced model designed specifically for high-level Adventurers." the saleswoman began, her professional smile unwavering.
She tapped the side of the device, and a holographic interface projected above it.
"To start with the basics, it features a mana-infused processing core, ensuring it never lags—even in areas with high magical interference. The body is crafted from enchanted mythril alloy, making it the current most durable phone on the market. It can withstand most magic attacks up to 10,000 magic power."
Alex looked intrigued. "Hmm, what else can it do?"
The saleswoman beamed, clearly in her element. "It also comes with a portable mana relay, allowing it to temporarily boost connectivity in the wilderness. Since mana grids are strongest inside cities and weaken drastically outside them, this feature is essential for Adventurers who travel frequently. Additionally, the phone has a mana disturbance detection system, which sends alerts if there are significant mana fluctuations in the surroundings. This can help detect sudden monster appearances, rifts, dungeons, or other anomalies."
Alex whistled. "That's actually useful. How much is it?"
The staff member's smile didn't waver as she replied, "One million relis."
Alex's expression froze. "O-One million?! That's absurdly expensive."
The saleswoman nodded politely, as if she had heard this complaint a thousand times before. "I understand, sir, but this is the top-of-the-line model. It is currently the only phone capable of maintaining network connectivity outside city limits. Since mana grids are concentrated in urban areas, most devices lose signal once you leave city boundaries. This phone ensures you remain connected even in the most remote locations."
Alex sighed. 'Of course, the best one has to be ridiculously overpriced.'
Before he could even think of rejecting it, Priscilla casually waved her hand. "We'll take it."
"H-Hey! I haven't even decided—"
"Shh," Priscilla cut him off, grinning. "I said it's a gift, didn't I? Just let your big sis spoil you." Alicia nodded in agreement.
Alex muttered in defeat. "…Fine."
The staff member smiled brightly, sensing an easy sale. "Excellent choice! Now, while we're at it, may I interest you in some additional services?"
Alex's instincts screamed that he had just stepped into a trap.
"Services?" he repeated warily.
"Why, yes!" The woman's voice took on the practiced enthusiasm of a corporate salesperson. "With our exclusive premium-tier Adventurer's Map subscription, you'll never be caught off guard! Get real-time terrain updates, shifting landscape predictions, and live monster activity tracking—all for an affordable monthly fee!"
Alex groaned. 'This is just like Earth.'
But the sales pitch wasn't over yet.
"Additionally, we also provide a lifetime device insurance package! For a one-time payment, your phone will be fully covered against any sort of physical damage."
Aurora burst into laughter. "Pfft—insurance? Oh, come on, that's such a scam!"
Alex sighed. 'She's not wrong.'
He turned to Alicia and Priscilla. "Please tell me we're not getting insurance."
Alicia gave a small shrug, utterly unfazed. "Eh, we don't really need it. If it breaks, I'll just buy you a new one."